The issue of allowing 8th grade players to participate has been an ever-present topic. The Executive Board has tried its best to adhere to the bylaws that were passed in 2016 that took effect in the 2017 season. In the 2017 season, several players were grandfathered into the league as they had played for a JV squad the prior year. This season there should have been no grandfathered players but three players were allowed into the leagues as 6th graders in 2016 and an exception was made last year for a 7th grader to join the league. For this reason, there remain four 8th grade players still in the league.

Over the past month, the league has fielded many requests asking that 8th graders be allowed to play and each have cited the grandfathered players still in the league as one the main reasons. The arguments for allowing their child to play are difficult to argue based on past decisions of prior Executive Boards. For this reason, the Executive Board is going to allow 8th grade players only to try out for a JV squad provided they have a signed letter of recommendation from their lacrosse club coach, have played a minimum of 2 years for that club, and have verified tournament play on a club travel team. The high school boy’s lacrosse program has a similar, albeit not the same, referral process in place. Once the league receives an application with a signed letter of recommendation from a player’s club coach, they will be allowed to try out for the appropriate JV program. Current grandfathered players will also need to submit paperwork.

Beginning in the 2019 season, only players in grades 9-12 will be able to compete in the AGLA league. There will be no further exceptions.